Should a condenser get frosted or covered in ice?

The condenser should be warm and should not be able to be covered with frost. (There is one exception and should only be cold for a few minutes.)

The evaporator can become covered with ice as it is the cold part of the system.

If it becomes covered with ice in a home air conditioner, automobile or bus the system will stop working, this is almost always caused by one of two things:

1. Air flow low or blocked
2. The drainage system that takes the condensing water away is plugged or has another problem (North American Bus AC systems have specific trouble here I will expand upon if it will be use full)

Truck refrigeration, Ware house and home freezers have an automatic cycle where the fan does not run but the Evaporator gets hot to melt accumulated ice and allow the water to drain, again the drain is critical.